LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE/Gray News) – An infant critically injured in an early morning crash in Louisville a neighborhood has died, and the mother is facing multiple charges related to his death.
According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, officers were called to a collision on Newburg Road and East Indian Trail just before 5:40 a.m. on Thursday.
Authorities said a Dodge Dart caught fire after rear-ending a Ford Escape.
Arriving officers reported finding a woman outside of the Dodge holding a child while the vehicle was on fire.
Police said the woman, later identified as 18-year-old Lyillie Pena, had minor injuries, but the child, a 3-month-old infant, was critically injured.
First responders rushed the child to Norton Children’s Hospital, but he died around 8:45 a.m.
The man driving the Ford told officers he was breaking at a red light when he saw a car “barreling toward him.” The collision ended up sending his SUV into the grass center median.
The male driver told police that Pena was aggressive when the two spoke after the crash. He also said she had glossy eyes with breath that smelled of alcohol while appearing to be unsteady on her feet.
According to police, Pena told officers that she had drunk 99-proof alcohol around 10 p.m. the night before and took Adderall.
Pena was arrested and is facing charges that include vehicular homicide, aggravated DUI and criminal mischief. She was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections.
During the booking process, police obtained search warrants to draw blood from Pena. The arrest report stated that a blood alcohol test returned a reading of .039.
Pena is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
The name of the child has not currently been released by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
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